Some thirst for the excitement of dodging fireworks at the Beehive Firecracker Festival (鹽水蜂炮) in Tainan County’s Yenshui Township, while others risk severe burning at ceremonies like Taitung’s Bombing of Master Han Dan (炸寒單). But for the past seven years, Lize Village (利澤村) in IIan County (宜蘭縣) has been holding a safer activity for Lantern Festival, though one that’s retained the celebratory atmosphere.
Known as the God’s Sedan Chair Race (走尪), the two-day competition, which begins on Sunday, takes place every year on the 15th day of the first Lunar month on Lize’s Old Street (利澤老街), located in the heart of Wuchieh Village.
“It’s the only competition of its kind in Taiwan,” said Wang Chang-fu (王長福), head of the Lize Community Development Association (利澤社區發展協會).
The competition sees teams of four race a palanquin, made with a chair affixed to two bamboo poles, 120m down Lize’s old street. Last year 55 teams competed for the NT$30,000 prize, and organizers expect as many or more competitors this year.
The local government and the Temple of Eternal Peace (永安宮), located at the far end of Old Street, jointly run the competition. And though the temple’s name evokes images of serenity and bliss, the ritual’s history is less than peaceful.
Wang said the race began as a procession devoted to Mazu (媽祖) more than 200 years ago. Villagers believed that worshipping the goddess could help banish evil spirits and prevent disease. The sedan race developed into a competition between nearby villages at the end of the Qing Dynasty and continued into the Japanese colonial period.
But what began as a friendly contest soon led to fierce rivalry between the villages. “There were intense disputes over which team was first past the post because there was no accurate way of measuring who crossed the finish line first,” Wang said.
Arguments and fisticuffs prompted local officials to suspend the sport indefinitely.
In 2000 the local government resurrected the event to boost tourism. To avoid any disputes, Wang said, they began using laser technology similar to that used at sports competitions to accurately determine the winner.
The two-day event also features a number of carnivalesque activities and concludes with teams engaging in a fire-walking (過火) ritual. Those wanting to catch the official ceremony on Sunday are advised to leave early as it begins at 8:30am.
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